The Ideal Defender

FLORIDA 41, OHIO STATE 14

Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey rose to the top of his game on college's biggest stage.

January 9, 2007|By Antonio Gonzalez, Special to the Sentinel

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- On a glitter-covered field, Derrick Harvey sprinted amid the madness, searching for teammates and coaches with whom to share the moment.

After the chaos settled, Harvey walked the four steps up to a stage erected on the field. Smiling and pointing to teammates, he raised his trophy as defensive player of the BCS National Championship Game.

He finished with three sacks, four tackles and a recovered fumble in UF's 41-14 rout of No. 1 Ohio State Monday night, helping secure the school's second football national championship.

Harvey, an unknown before the season, said he never envisioned that moment, not even in his wildest dreams.

"You just go out, work hard every day and hope it pays off," Harvey said, while putting on his white national championship hat. "All those two-a-days and workouts paid off tonight. I never would have thought this could happen to me."

Ohio State Heisman Trophy quarterback Troy Smith was never able to get in rhythm against the Gators. UF's defensive line, anchored by Harvey, constantly pressured him into errors. Smith finished 4-for-14 passing with one interception.

"Derrick Harvey is the most underrated player in the nation," defensive tackle Steven Harris said. "He came out of nowhere this year. People need to recognize what he has done."

Harvey would put the game out of reach with less than two minutes left in the first half. After junior defensive end Jarvis Moss jarred the ball loose from Smith, Harvey recovered, taking the ball 9 yards to the OSU 5-yard line.

Three plays later, the Gators stretched their lead to 34-14.

"He showed everybody he's the best end in the country tonight," senior defensive lineman Ray McDonald said.

After senior defensive tackle Marcus Thomas was dismissed from the team, the Gators' defense needed someone who could fill the void.

Monday night, that player was Harvey, a 6-foot-5, 262-pounder from Greenbelt, Md.

Putting together a season like Harvey has -- 11 sacks and 35 tackles -- and having perhaps his best performance on college football's biggest stage, Harvey may now have to decide whether to stay for his senior season or enter the NFL draft.

Having the fourth-highest sack total in UF history this season might be hard to top.

He said after the game that he never thought twice about leaving this season.

"The only thing on my mind right now is the Gators," he said. "We're national champs -- that's all that matters."

An unknown before the season, Harvey surely will be remembered for what he did here.

As he disappeared into the locker room, Harvey -- a quiet, soft-spoken player -- let his play speak volumes for him.

Perhaps Gators fans will embrace him for a performance that seemed unlikely when the season started -- Harvey entered the season with only six tackles and one sack in his career.

"It just shows with hard work anything's possible," Harvey said. "This is the best moment of my life."